Alumni & Friends

Judge Ken Starr: It is with a heavy heart that I write to you concerning the tragic death of Mr. Jeffrey Thaemert, an electrician and resident of our beloved Waco, who died yesterday morning working on the construction of our new business school building.

As the University’s motto – Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana ­– suggests, Baylor University strives dutifully to serve the interests of both church and community. That is why we are asking you to join us as we prepare for an historic celebration of Christian worship at Baylor’s beautiful McLane Stadium.

The New Year has dawned, rich with promise. The bite of wintry temperatures reminds us, as does the calendar itself, that time marches on. May the Year of our Lord 2015 be one rich and abundant with blessings for you and all those you hold dear.

As often happens on our beautiful campus, the extended Texas summer has quickly given way to chilly temperatures that remind us that winter is right around the corner. These nippy mornings give rise, however, to very warm hearts as we call to mind the joy of Thanksgiving, followed quickly by the bright promise of Christmas. With abundant blessings enlivening our days and inspiring our dreams, I bring you warm greetings from Baylor University.

Every year, the Baylor family pauses early in the spring semester to look back across the seventeen decades of our institution's glorious history. On a very special day, we gather in community to celebrate that historic first day of February — in 1845 — when Baylor University was chartered by the Republic of Texas.

Dec. 13, 2013
Op-ed by Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr regarding Christian persecution that undermines hope for democracy in the Middle East. Judge Starr delivered a keynote address at an international conference on "Christianity and Freedom" Dec. 13-14 in Rome, co-sponsored by Georgetown and Baylor. (This op-ed was placed by Lori Fogleman, assistant vice president for Baylor Media Communications.)

Baylor's internationally-renowned Institute for Studies of Religion will co-sponsor with the Georgetown University Religious Freedom Project "Christianity and Freedom: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives" on December 13 and 14 in Rome.

President Starr participated in a debate on the "Current State and Possible Future of Religious Liberty in America" as part of Georgetown University's Religious Freedom Project capstone conference in October.

As we approach Thanksgiving week and eagerly look forward to the joys of Christmas, it is a great blessing to bring greetings from Baylor’s beautiful campus at this wonderful time of year. The act of gathering together as a family to give thanks represents a hallowed tradition in America. It is also a welcome ritual we in Baylor Nation enthusiastically embrace.

Nov. 11, 2013
(SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED) Opinion piece by Baylor President Ken Starr about the impact on the culture, institutions of freedom and U.S. national security stemming from increased persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East. Next month in Rome, Georgetown University in partnership with Baylor will showcase the findings of a two-year study on Christianity and freedom and confront questions such as what happens to the Middle East if Christians flee.

This summer, hundreds of Baylor University students have left the comforts of home to embark on mission trips literally around the globe. In a time of rancor and polarization in America, Baylor Bears are quietly and energetically reaching out to serve some of the neediest people on the planet, including here in East Africa. They are sowing seeds of peace.

Our hearts are broken. We thought we could — and would — do it: Back-to-back national championships by our beloved Lady Bears and their (already) legendary Hall of Fame Coach, Baylor's incomparable Kim Mulkey.

Today is special. On this Presidents’ Day, our nation once again honors the vision and sacrifice of both General George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln. At Baylor, February also is the month when we honor inspirational leaders who, in their era, have had a lasting impact on our University.

Happy Thanksgiving from the beautiful campus of Baylor University! This week, millions of Americans will gather together to renew a hallowed national tradition launched almost four centuries ago on the shores of Cape Cod at Plymouth Colony.

Throughout the month of June, we will welcome to Baylor's beautiful campus members of the class of 2016 as they participate in our wonderful New Student Experience. Each will be invited to explore his or her academic options and, in the process, learn about Baylor's robust academic and spiritual support, as well as our campus resources. Each new Baylor Bear will also become steeped in Baylor's glorious traditions. These baby Bears now become proud members of that Good Old Baylor Line.

Today is Law Day — established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 and recognized annually to honor the role of law in the creation of the United States of America. How appropriate, then, that we at Baylor University bade farewell this very Law Day morning to former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Here on the banks of the Brazos, spring has arrived. Winter rains have nourished flowering trees recovering from a harsh summer and fall, while seeds visible only to the eyes of God have burst underground silently spreading roots that promise a vibrant future.

What a wonderful Homecoming we experienced last weekend, as thousands of Baylor alumni once again returned to their beloved alma mater - in the immortal words of Samuel Palmer Brooks - to "renew former associations and friendships, and catch the Baylor spirit again."

Today, from offices at Pat Neff Hall, we have watched our ROTC students faithfully standing guard at the flag pole on Founders Mall. This modest but commanding act of respect reminds us how each day, in locations all over the world, and in similarly humble but powerful ways, men and women in the armed services stand guard over our freedoms.

It has been such a great encouragement to see the good people of Baylor Nation respond to our call to stand strong for our University. I am very grateful for your support as we have fought to sustain a strong Big 12 Conference. As my message to you on Saturday evening reflected, it is with your help that we have assured the Big 12 will not only survive but thrive in the future.

As the sun sets on a beautiful Saturday here in Waco, my thoughts return to what was for all of us a simply exhilarating evening as our Baylor Bears triumphed in a heart-stopping, headline-grabbing victory over No. 14 TCU.

This has been a truly memorable year for Baylor. One area in which our green and gold has shown brightest has been in the many successes of Baylor athletics. We will recall this as the year that Baylor Nation - alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends - rose up to support their beloved University in numerous tangible ways.

Baylor University President Ken Starr today announced the appointment of Tommye Lou Davis, associate dean of the Honors College, associate professor of classics and Master Teacher, to his executive council as vice president for constituent engagement, effective at the start of the spring semester.

As we count our many blessings and honor Baylor's call to be that metaphorical "city on a hill," we recognize that our beloved University has not been immune from the winds swirling around American higher education. In particular, rising costs have deeply affected our extended Baylor family. So much has been accomplished over the generations as Baylor has grown, but in recent years - including this year - tuition levels have continued to rise.

Judge Kenneth Winston Starr will be installed as only the 14th president in Baylor University's 165-year history in a public ceremony at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17 in the Ferrell Center. The Constitution Day ceremony will be the highlight of a week featuring academic, commemorative and community events relating to the inauguration.

Before an enthusiastic crowd of students, faculty and staff, and friends of the university, Baylor University President Ken Starr today announced a $100 million scholarship fundraising initiative, officially titled How Extraordinary the Stories: The President's Scholarship Initiative, the first fundraising priority announced by the president. President Starr, only the 14th president in Baylor's 165-year history, will be installed during an inauguration ceremony on Friday, Sept. 17.

Baylor University President Ken Starr today announced three appointments to his executive leadership team: Dr. Elizabeth Davis, BBA '84, as executive vice president and provost; Dr. Dennis Prescott as vice president and special advisor to the president for advancement; and Kathy Wills Wright, BSEd '85, MSEd '88, as senior vice president for strategic initiatives and partnerships.

After a number of very busy and challenging weeks, Baylor University has much to celebrate and be thankful for, says President Ken Starr. The Big 12 was saved, thanks in part to members of the Baylor Nation who championed the cause of the Big 12 and spoke out on Baylor's behalf. But your continued support is needed: fill our stands and enthusiastically support our athletic programs. The president also cited another need important to the Baylor family: significantly increasing the endowed student scholarship program at Baylor.

Starr remarked that the new 10-team model of the Big 12 Conference is great for Baylor and great for intercollegiate athletics because it puts the interests of fans and student-athletes first. The first home football game of the season for the Baylor Bears is Sept. 4 against Floyd Casey Stadium against Sam Houston State.

Baylor University is an extraordinary place. On this first day as an adopted member of that long and ever-growing Baylor line, I give thanks for the countless words of warm welcome and cheerful encouragement that have come my way over the past three and a half months of learning and preparation as I have met with members of the Baylor family in cities across Texas. For 165 years, Baylor has faithfully served both Ecclesia - the church - and Texana - the vast community that now extends not only throughout my native Texas but also to the farthest reaches of the globe. It is my fond hope and fervent prayer that, through God's grace, I will be able to serve this great and beloved institution with energy and enthusiasm, using the full extent of my abilities to empower our important work together. Baylor deserves nothing less.

Baylor University President Ken Starr released a statement today celebrating the perseverance of the Big 12 Conference and its historic rivalries. Starr expressed "great appreciation to our fellow Big 12 institutions for remaining committed to our partnership and the vision of this conference."

Baylor Director of Athletics Ian McCaw and Baylor President Ken Starr met with members of the media on Friday to discuss conference realignment and encourage the Baylor Family to get involved, stay involved and help make a difference.

Baylor University President Ken Starr said today in a message sent to the Baylor Family that the university is continuing to seek as much unity as possible among the members of the Big 12 Conference and to fight for cohesiveness among the Texas universities of the Big 12.

Waco Tribune-Herald, June 7, 2010 (guest column about Baylor and the Big 12 by President Ken Starr)
On my first day as president of Baylor University, I wrote to members of the Baylor family expressing my great enthusiasm to be joining our esteemed university, my deep respect for its illustrious tradition, my abiding commitment to our important mission and my sincere vow to help advance the goals of the university in the months and years ahead.

A guest column penned by Baylor University President Ken Starr regarding Baylor and the future of the Big 12 is running in several Texas newspapers, including the Waco Tribune-Herald and The Dallas Morning News.

Baylor President Ken Starr spoke about Baylor's commitment to the Big 12 and to its ongoing relationship with the fellow Texas schools in the Big 12, at a news conference Monday, June 7, on the Baylor campus.

Baylor President Ken Starr spoke about Baylor's commitment to the Big 12, and to an ongoing relationship with our fellow Texas schools in the Big 12, at a news conference Monday, June 7, on the Baylor campus.